Potatogate (Olmeria): Difference between revisions

This changed only in mid 2034, when the government of Olmeria, with a new focus on improving Olmerian influence in the League of Nations, drafted and then submitted the [[Transnational Environmental Externalities Protocol Act|Transnational Environmental Externalities Protocol Billt]] (TEEP Bill). The Bill, while not mentioning Canespa by name, was widely publicised as a reaction to the [[Hamuq City Reservoir Crisis]], and was vocally condemned by Canespa, who claimed it would restrict their ability to carry out ecological developments. Why Olmeria chose to undertake the responsibility of legislating in response to the crisis, when they themselves were minimally effected by it, was questioned by many at the time. Olmerian diplomats claimed the bill would prevent future conflicts, and therefore was in the interests of any nation trading in the region, but the reasoning seemed to lack any depth as to why the country would go to such lengths to be the one that proposed the legislation. It's suggested that heavy influence from coalition partner the Justice Party, who envision Olmeria as a neutral worldwide arbitrator of peace, led to the move in an attempt to build towards this vision.   

Despite slight diplomatic tensions over the TEEP Bill, Canespa reached out to Olmeria in late April, proposing a new trade deal between the nations. As part of a wide reaching upscale of the [[Canasta Company]]'s operations, Canespa proposed tariff changes on specified products that would effectively force Olmerian companies to deal with only Canespan companies. The deal was accepted for imports of wheat/barley, potatoes, beans, tobacco, and syrup, on the agreement that all of these products would be sold for 7.5% cheaper than on the general market. Despite being signed on the 4th June, the deal was not due to come into force untill the 1st September.  

Many citizens expected the Olmerian government, made up of the centrist Unity Coalition and Justice Party, to immediately join the international crowd in condemning Canespa and cutting economic and diplomatic ties with their government. However, much to journalists surprise, the only initial communication from the office for foreign relations was a brief statement that Olmeria would not be doing anything just yet.